DON’T judge our start until at least after 10 games’. As David Moyes cautiously hands out praise for the side’s best start to a season for five years, his words offer wise counsel.

DON’T judge our start until at least after 10 games’. As David Moyes cautiously hands out praise for the side’s best start to a season for five years, his words offer wise counsel.

It can be dangerous to build up hopes and dreams on the back of only two games and so Moyes has urged for calm after the Blues’ victories over Manchester United and Aston Villa.

Two wins in six days is not a foundation to base any rounded opinion on how Everton will fare though it can certainly give us – and Moyes – an idea.

It is an exciting thought and given their notoriety for slow starts, privately, the manager must be thrilled.

So allow us to indulge in a beginning which has Everton supporters buoyant and optimistic.

Doing so is shaky territory but watching the side cut a swathe through Villa Park, you could not help but be really impressed and encouraged.

After the break neck speed and thrilling nature of their win last Monday came a performance of prowess against Aston Villa, where they needed only to be in top gear for 45 minutes.

And where one man dominated the game and all the post-match chat in the first game, it will be Everton, the team, the group and the 11, who lap up the plaudits today.

Seven months ago, the Blues went to Villa Park in the grips of a central defensive headache and needing a late equaliser from substitute Victor Anichebe to rescue them from leaving a stale affair empty handed.

That day, £500,000 Darron Gibson made his debut, Royston Drenthe was typically frustrating and Louis Saha continued to drift through the game with Tim Cahill manfully struggling to help Everton penetrate.

How life has changed.

Within the framework of the same 4-4-1-1 formation, Everton looked reborn at the weekend.

The injuries at centre-half have cleared up and Moyes has used the remaining time in the January transfer window – and again this summer – to make subtle yet telling changes to the team.

Against Aston Villa in January, the Blues looked limited and constrained as an attacking force.

The slick nature of Anichebe’s goal was an exception to everything else either side of the equaliser.

Fast forward to Saturday afternoon and Everton looked like a team of possibilities.

Though they have retained that stubbornness, organisation and character ingrained by Moyes, the Blues have fluidity, adaptability and goal threats from a number of positions.

It is a potent mix. Whisper it, but Everton look like a really good team.

Gibson is improving with every game and at half a million pounds looks a steal. Nikica Jelavic’s talents are obvious, Steven Pienaar has responded to his manager’s faith in him and Steven Naismith looks an exciting addition to the squad.

Leon Osman enjoyed playing as part of their flowing midfield at Villa Park as well.

The back four, the league’s third meanest defence last season, are mature and strong and the range of options on the substitutes’ bench looks healthier as well with new signing Kevin Mirallas, John Heitinga and Seamus Coleman the replacements on Saturday.

You could not help but leave the West Midlands with the sense that Everton are once again a side with opportunities in front of them; an opportunity to bring back European football to Goodison Park.

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The Editor

Alastair Machray

Alastair Machray was appointed editor of The Liverpool Echo in 2005 and is also editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. He is a former editor of The Daily Post (Wales and England) and editor-in-chief of the company's Welsh operations. Married dad-of-two and keen golfer Alastair is one of the longest-serving newspaper editors in the country. His titles have won numerous awards and spearheaded numerous successful campaigns.